Self-mailing calendar with integrally formed pencil holder

ABSTRACT

A CALENDAR IS SHOWN HAVING AN UPPER PANEL, A BACKING PANEL, A REMOVABLE PANEL AND A REINFORCING PANEL, WITH A PLURALITY OF CALENDAR PAGES SECURED TO THE BACKING PANEL. THE CALENDAR HAS A MAILING CONFIGURATION WHEREIN THE UPPER PANEL IS FOLDED AGAINST THE BACKING PANEL AND THE REMOVABLE PANEL, WITH THE PAGES BETWEEN THEM, AND THE REINFORCING PANEL IS FOLDED OVER THE FREE EDGE OF THE UPPER PANEL AND ADHESIVELY RECORED TO THE REAR FACE THEREOF. THE CALENDAR ALSO HAS A CALENDAR CONFIGURATION IN WHICH THE REMOVABLE PANEL IS REMOVED BY MEANS OF PREFORATED CREASES CONNECTING IT TO THE OTHER PANELS, IN WHICH THE UPPER PANEL AND THE BACKING PANEL LIE IN THE SAME PLANE, AND IN WHICH THE REINFORCING PANEL REMAINS ADHESIVELY SECURED TO THE REAR FACE OF THE UPER PANEL. THE ADHESIVELY SECURED TOGETHER UPPER PANEL AND REINFORCING PANEL HAVE A CURVED SLOT FORMED IN THEM TO ACT AS A PENCIL HOLDER. THE SLOT DEFINES A PAIR OF TABS ON ONE SIDE AND A SINGLE TAB ON THE OTHER SIDE, UNDER WHICH A PENCIL CAN BE INSERTED.

United States Patent ()1 lice 3,605,306 Patented Sept. 20, 1971 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A calendar is shown having an upper panel, a backing panel, a removable panel and a reinforcing panel, with a plurality of calendar pages secured to the backing panel. The calendar has a mailing configuration wherein the upper panel is folded against the backing panel and the removable panel, with the pages between them, and the reinforcing panel is folded over the free edge of the upper panel and adhesively secured to the rear face thereof. The calendar also has a calendar configuration in which the removable panel is removed by means of perforated creases connecting it to the other panels, in which the upper panel and the backing panel lie in the same plane, and in which the reinforcing panel remains adhesively secured to the rear face of the upper panel. The adhesively secured together upper panel and reinforcing panel have a curved slot formed in them to act as a pencil holder. The slot defines a pair of tabs on one side and a single tab on the other side, under which a pencil can be inserted.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates generally to calendar assemblies and more particularly relates to a self-mailing calendar having pencil holder means integrally formed therein.

Description of the prior art Several different types of self-mailing calendars have been utilized prior to the present invention. Typically, this type of calendar is mailed in the form of a closed booklet and is displayed in the form of an open booklet in a pendant position. The Larkin Patent No. 1,990,739 that issued Feb. 12, 1935, discloses a calendar of this type. This type of calendar is often given away for advertising purposes and is usually mailed directly from the manufacturer to the ultimate user.

To facilitate mailing, calendars of this type should be as light and compact as possible. The calendar should fold into a flat, relatively thin package, that can be mailed without protective packaging and at a minimum rate. The calendar, when closed for mailing, should also form a secure package that will not come open during mailing. At the same time, however, the package should be relatively easy to open by the user. Further, after the calendar is opened for use, it should present a neat appearance.

A feature that is often included as a part of calendars is the pencil holder. Many calendars of this general type are designed for record keeping or for making small notations regarding important events. It is desirable in such cases to have a pencil holder associated with the calendar so that the user need not search for a pencil. Many different types of clips and holding devices have been used in the past. For example, the Shedd Patent No. 1,810,440 that issued June 16, 1931, discloses a metal strip that is formed flat for mailing and then bent by the user into an appropriate shape for holding a pencil. Other types of pencil holders are shown in the two Winford patents, Nos. 2,068,214 and 2,626,818.

The most desirable pencil holder is one that is formed integrally with the calendar itself. This reduces the cost of manufacture and assembly, reduce the cost of mailing, reduces bulk, is not easily damaged, and does not require any assembly by the ultimate user. The prior art self-mailing calendars we are aware of have failed to provide all of these useful features in a single unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The self-mailing calendar of the present invention is constructed from a single flexible support sheet and a plurality of calendar pages. In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the support sheet includes an upper panel, a backing panel, a removable panel and a reinforcing panel. The calendar has a mailing configuration in which the upper panel is folded against the backing panel with the pages between them. The removable panel, which is connected to the free edge of the backing panel by a perforated crease, is secured at its other edge to the reinforcing panel by another perforated crease. The reinforcing panel is folded along the crease over the edge of the upper panel and is adhesively secured to the rear face thereof. When the calendar reaches the ultimate user, the user tears away the removable panel by means of the two perforated creases, leaving thereinforcing panel adhesively secured to the rear face of the upper panel. The upper panel and the backing panel are then unfolded so that they lie in the same plane. The single support sheet is manufactured with single curved slots formed in both the support panel and the reinforcing panel so that they lie in line with each other when the panels are secured together. The single curved slot defines a pair of spaced tabs on one side of the slot and at least a single tab on the other side of the slot that are foldable about their bases out of the plane of the panel so that a pencil can be inserted under the tabs and held by the tabs against the face of the panel.

The present invention provides a self-mailing calendar that meets all of the objectives outlined above. The calendar is simple and inexpensive to manufacture since only a single support sheet, a plurality of calendar pages, and, if desired, a chalk board or picture are required for each calendar. The various slots, openings and creases in the support sheet can be formed in a single stamping operation. The calendar pages are simply stapled to the backing panel. The calendar is then folded into a flat, compact unit for mailing, with the reinforcing panel adhesively secured to the rear face of the upper panel. Since the unit is adhesively secured together, it will not readily open during normal handling incurred in mailing the calendar. When the calendar arrives at its destination, the user removes the removable panel by means of the perforations and folds out the tabs to provide a pencil holder. The present invention meets all of the requirements outlined above and incorporates a combination of features not found in the prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of the calendar assembly with the entire support sheet lying in a single plane;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the unit folded into the mailing configuration, with the reinforcing panel adhesively secured to the rear face of the upper panel;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2, portions thereof being broken away;

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective of the unit in its mailing configuration, showing the user removing the removable panel;

3 r FIG. 5 is a plan view of the upper panel of the calendar showing a pencil mounted in the pencil holder, portions thereof being broken away; and

FIG. 6 is a Sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT upper panel 11a, a backing panel 11b, a narrow removable panel 11c and a reinforcing panel 11d. These panels are hingedly connected together at their adjoining edges by a plurality of parallel folds or creases formed in the support sheet 11. In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the crease between panels 11a and 1111 forms a fold line while the other two creases form tear lines. The two tear lines, which define the opposite edges of removable panel 110, are perforated in the preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1.

The calendar pages 12 are secured to backing panel 111] by means of a pair of staples 13 and 14. The upper edge of the calendar pages lie just below the crease formed between panels 11a and 11b. The lower edge of the calendar pages 12 extend to just below the tear line formed between panels 11b and 11c. When panels 110 and 1111' are removed from panel 11b, the ragged edge of panel 11b will thus lie behind the calendar pages 12.

In the preferred embodiment shown, upper panel 11a is equal in length to the Sum of the lengths of backing panel 11b and removable panel 11c. For mailing purposes, panel lla is folded over backing panel 111) along the fold line between them so that the calendar pages 12 lie between the two panels 11a and 11b. In this position, the free edge of upper panel 11a will lie directly along the tear line between panels 11c and 11d. Panel 11a' is then folded along this tear line around the edge of upper panel 11a until it comes in contact with the rear face of panel 11a. The face of reinforcing panel 11d is provided with a suitable adhesive 15 that is used to adhesively secure panel 11d to the rear face of panel 11a as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In this mailing configuration, the integrity of the two perforated creases is not broken so that a strong, secure mailing package is formed.

The upper panel 11a has a small opening 17 formed therein along the center line of the support sheet adjacent the upper edge of the panel. Opening or hole 17 is used to hang the calendar. A correspondingly positioned opening 17a is formed in reinforcing panel 11d such that when panels 11a and 11d are adhesively secured together, openings 17 and 17a will be aligned.

Also formed in upper panel 11a and reinforcing panel 11d are identical curved slots 18 and 18a. Slots 16 and 18a are centrally positioned on their respective panels and are identical in configuration so that the two slots are aligned when the panels 11a and 11d are adhesively secured together. Slot 18 will be described in detail, and the same description will apply to slot 18a. Slot 18a extends generally transversely of the panel 11a and is symmetrical with respect to a vertical line extending through the center of the panel, through holes 17 and 17a. Slot 18 defines a pair of upwardly extending, spaced tabs 20 and 21 on one side of slot 18 that are separated by a single downwardly extending tab 22 on the other side of slot 18. Tab 22 extends downwardly between the two upwardly extending tabs 20 and 21.

As shown in FIG. 1, small circular openings are formed at each end of slot 18 to prevent the slot from tearing. In the mailing configuration, slot 18a overlies slot 18 with the corresponding tabs also being aligned. Each of the tabs is foldable about their bases out of the plane of the panels so that a pencil 25 can be inserted under the tabs. and held by the tabs against the face of the upper panel, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The upwardly extending tabs 20-20a and 21-2111 extend upwardly around the pencil while the downwardly extending tabs 22-22:: extend downwardly over the pencil. Pencil 25 is securely held against the front face of panel 11a but can be easily removed from the pencil holder by sliding it along its own axis.

Again, the mailing configuration of calendar 10 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The unit is adhesively secured together with the calendar pages 12 held securely between panels 11a and 11b. Although the slots 18 and 18a have been formed, the tabs have not been deformed so that they still lie in the same plane as the associated panel. Therefore, they do not protrude from the package nor do they increase its size so as to impede handling of the package. The rear of backing panel 11b is provided with mailing information and suitable stamps as shown in FIG. 4. When the unit arrives, the user removes the narrow panel by means of the perforations as shown in FIG. 4. Reinforcing panel 11d remains adhesively attached to the rear face of panel 11a to provide additional support for the hole 17 and for the pencil holder. Backing panel 11b then folds outwardly to lie in the same plane as panel 11a. Since the calendar pages 12 extend slightly below the bottom edge of panel 11b, the ragged edge caused by the perforations does not show. It is noted that a suitable chalk board or picture 26 can be attached to the front face of panel 11a, as shown in FIG. 1. Since the use of this space does not affect the invention, no further description is believed necessary. The patentable features of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A self-mailing calendar, comprising:

(a) a flexible support sheet having a plurality of parallel creases defining a plurality of panels, including an upper panel, a backing panel, and a reinforcing panel;

(b) a plurality of calendar pages secured to said backing panel;

(c) said calendar having a mailing configuration wherein said upper panel is folded against said backing panel along a crease forming a fold line, with said pages therebetween, and wherein said reinforcing panel is folded along a crease forming a tear line, over the edge of said upper panel and adhesively secured to the rear face thereof, said calendar further having a calendar configuration wherein said reinforcing panel is detached from said other panels along said tear line and remains adhesively secured to said rear face of said upper panel, and wherein said upper panel and said backing panel lie in the same plane; and

(d) pencil holder means formed by slots in both said upper and reinforcing panels, the slots coinciding upon superposition of said panels.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein each of said slots defines a pair of spaced tabs on one side of said slot separated by a single tab on the other side of said slot extending therebetween.

3. A calendar, comprising:

(a) a flexible support sheet including an upper panel and a backing panel;

(b) a plurality of calendar pages secured to one of said panels; and

(c) said upper panel having a single slot pencil holder means integrally formed therein, said pencil holder means comprising a single curved slot formed in said panel, said slot defining at least a pair of spaced tabs on one side of said slot and at least a single tab on the other side of said slot, said tabs being foldable about their bases out of the plane of said panel so that a pencil can be inserted under said tabs and held by said tabs against the face of said panel.

4. A self-mailing calendar, comprising:

(a) a flexible support sheet having a plurality of parallel creases defining four panels including an upper panel, a backing panel, a removable panel and a reinforcing panel;

(b) a plurality of calendar pages secured to said backing panel;

(c) said upper panel being equal in length to the sum of the lengths of said backing panel and said removable panel, said crease between said backing panel and said removable panel and said crease between said removable panel and said reinforcing panel being perforated;

(d) said calendar having a mailing configuration wherein said upper panel is folded against said backing panel and said removable panel, with said pages therebetween, and wherein said reinforcing panel is folded over the free edge of said upper panel and adhesively secured to the rear face thereof, and said calendar further having a calendar configuration wherein said removable panel is removed by means of said perforations, wherein said upper panel and said backing panel lie in the same plane, and wherein said reinforcing panel remains adhesively secured to said rear face of said upper panel; and

(e) said upper panel and said reinforcing panel both having pencil holder means integrally formed therein,

6 said pencil holder means comprising a single, generally transversely extending, curved slot formed in said panels, said slot defining a pair of spaced tabs on one side of said slot separated by a single tab on the other side of said slot extending therebetween, said tabs being foldable about their bases out of the plan of said panels so that a pencil can be inserted under said tabs and held by said tabs against the face of said upper panel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 401,210 4/1889 Reed 28118X 844,948 1/ 1907 Lynch 281- 1,810,440 6/1931 Shedd -119 1,921,815 8/1933 Gibbs 40119 1,990,739 2/1935 Larkin r. 40 -1l9 2,068,214 l/1937 Winford 40121 2,229,854 1/ 1941 Krevis 28130 2,626,818 1/1953 Winford 283--2 2,985,464 5/ 1961 MacFarland 229-923 3,253,770 5/ 1966 Black 22940 US. Cl. X.R. 

